Na Bolom Danmark, English version

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Na Bolom Danmark
Na Bolom Danmark
Na Bolom Danmark is a Danish association that cooperates with the cultural research centre Na Bolom in
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
Our primary goal is to contribute financially to the
Side 4/4
preservation of Na Bolom’s buildings, household
effects, library and photographic collection. This will
help support the continued work of the centre.
The cooperation between the associations furthermore includes an exchange of knowledge and experiences about the coexistence of many cultures,
establishing scientific links with universities, as well
as generating study opportunities for students within
the areas of anthropology, archaeology, sociology and
ecology.
In this way we hope to enhance each others work
and to coordinate some of the activities the associations have in Denmark and Mexico.
Na Bolom in San Cristóbal de las Casas,
México
ple’s work to keep, develop and promote the culture
and environment of Chiapas. At the same time, Na
Bolom functions as a cultural centre and works with
the Lacandon indians in their struggle to survive and
preserve their culture in the Chiapas’ rainforest.
The institution is also a important scientific centre
containing a library, a museum, a shop with artistic
handcrafts, a reforestation school, a hotel and a restaurant.
The library and archive are composed of a unique
collection of literature on subjects including the state
of Chiapas, the Mayan culture, Trudi’s and Frans Blom’s
publications, manuscripts and diaries, and Trudi’s
55,000 photographs. Furthermore, the beautiful buildings hold art and handcrafts from the surrounding
indigenous groups and Trudi’s personal and unique collection of jewellery and dresses.
Each year Na Bolom receives and hosts around
25,000 visitors from all over the world.
History
Na Bolom was established in 1951 by the Danish archaeologist Frans Blom and the Swiss photographer
and journalist Gertude (Trudi) Blom. Today the institution is managed by a board that continues the cou-
Na Bolom means “The House of the Jaguar”. Bolom =
jaguar is at the same time, a word puzzle on the last
name Blom. The house was bought by Trudi and Frans
in 1950.
Na Bolom, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
The chapel of Na Bolom.
The Museum contains:
• Archaeological findings: More than 950 pieces,
including from the Moxviquil area which was
excavated by archaeologist Frans Blom.
• Lacandon ethnography: Among others Lacandon
pieces from the 19th and 20th Centuries.
• Religious art and art from the Colonial period:
50 paintings and many figures from the 16th to
the 19th Centuries.
• Chiapas textiles: Part of Gertrude Duby’s own
collection, which includes adaptations of traditional designs to more western designs.
• Forged iron: Collection of 39 forged iron crosses
unique to San Cristóbal, dated from the 19th and
20th Centuries.
• Contemporary art: Some works by Carlos Jurado
and Raúl Anguiano, and a lithography of Pablo
Picasso among many other Mexican and foreign
artists.
• Photography: The unique and utmost invaluable
Gertrude Duby Blom Collection, along with other
photographers works. These more than 55,000
pictures document Chiapas’ history, environment,
and people of the 20th Century.
• Furniture: The buildings are furnished with furniture typical of Chiapas dating from the 18th and
19th Centuries.
• Folk Art: The rooms are decorated with Mexican
artistic handicrafts.
Lacandon indians photographed by Trudi Blom.
Frans Blom was born in Copenhagen in 1893 and
worked from 1919 in Mexico as an oil explorer. Later
on, he earned a degree in Archaeology from Harvard
University. As the leader of the Middle American
research department at Tulane University in New
Orleans, he established USA’s leading library on the
subject, while also actively organizing expeditions to
the jungle area in the southern part of Mexico. His
earlier records from Palenque, Chiapas and his many
discoveries soon made him internationally renowned
in Mayan research.
During one of his expeditions to the rainforest of
Chiapas, he met the Swiss journalist Gertrude Duby.
Together, they acquired an old convent from 1893 in
San Cristóbal de las Casas and renamed it “Na Bolom”.
They renovated the property with a library and
guest rooms and shortly after, the place became a
natural place for researchers, travellers, writers, film
makers, etc, who visited Chiapas.
The couple was actively involved in helping the Lacandon people in the jungle of Chiapas. Trudi’s photographs of Lacandons are known worldwide and some
of them have been exhibited in Denmark in 2008.
Frans Blom died in 1963, but Trudi continued the
work and she was, until her death in 1993, a pioneer
within ecology and reforestation. Because of her being a front runner in this area, the replanting of trees
is still a main activity carried out by Na Bolom.
Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Archaeological findings at the museum in Na Bolom.
Na Bolom is important to the cultural heritage, both
locally and for the Danish culture due to its origin and
the many Danish relations.
The Library and the archive include:
Trees from the nursery ready to be replanted.
Na Bolom’s collections are quite varied and consist
of more than 8,000 thousand specialized texts and
documents about Chiapas and the Mayan Indians.
The Research Center’s collection consists of more
than 9,000 books on archaeology, anthropology
and history, mostly of the Mayan culture. The library contains an assortment of rare books, some of
which were published in the 19th Century. Furthermore, there are unique manuscripts of great importance for researchers.
The library’s collection of more than 8,000 rare
books and many documents on the Mayan subject,
are considered of utmost importance to the historical heritage of Chiapas.
Also preserved are Trudi and Frans Blom´s publications and diaries.
The library functions as a research center for
both Mexican and foreign scientists.
Reforestation
Since 1973 Na Bolom has produced approximately
1000 trees per year in their tree nursery in an effort
to reduce the problem of deforestation in Chiapas.
Together with the local authorities and the school in
the Mayan village of Pozuelo, the trees are planted in
the beginning of every school year. As a direct result
of this initiative, substantial funds have bought extensive areas to restore the nature of Chiapas.
The tree nursery also works as a model of production and protection of native flora and fauna species.
It also functions as an information centre for other
initiatives in other Indian villages.
Each month, the tree nursery receives around 300
visitors from different schools in San Cristóbal de las
Casas and surrounding villages. Reforestation, reuse
and recycling are the main focus of the program.
The Library in Na Bolom.
Development projects in the Community
One of the main goals of Na Bolom is to support the
local communities and to promote international understanding. To accomplish this, Na Bolom works with
the local authorities and several international organizations. Some of the current projects are:
Lacandon Health and Nutrition Project
In the spirit of the founders work is done to improve the
overall health of the Lacandons. Donations make it possible for the indians to fund trips from their villages to
San Cristóbal and to pay for the necessary medical aid.
Frans Blom’s letters were published in 1923.
og være genkendeligt både i stor og lille ve
Logoet er brugt i forbindelse med dette ny
Med venlig hilsen
Bestyrelsen
Foreningen Na Bolom Danmark
Frans Blom on one of his many expeditions.
Portrait of Gertrude “Trudi” Blom.
Na Bolom is working to formalize agreements with
different organizations and universities in order to
create a comprehensive project, which will help in
mitigating the health and nutrition diseases in the
villages in the jungle. These projects involves the villages which have an agreement with Na Bolom.
establishing of a museum store and an area for the
production of handcrafts known as “The Jaguar’s Garden” has opened many opportunities for new markets
and with this, the Lacandon and other indian villages
have achieved new economical possibilities.
Development of traditional artisan handicrafts
Na Bolom has an extensive experience with local
artisans, especially among the Lacandon Indians. Na
Bolom helps the local communities by developing
and spreading knowledge about their handicrafts,
traditions, techniques and creating a market for their
products at a national and international level. The
Corridor “Hach Winik” for eco-tourism
Na Bolom has been involved in developing a program
among the villages of Nahá, Metzabok and Lacanjá
to promote sustainable tourism with a low impact on
the Lacandon culture and the rainforest’s ecosystem.
Furthermore, cultural centres have been built in
three villages in the rainforest: Lacanja-Chansayab,
Nahá and Frontera Corozal.
Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico’s 32
states and borders with Guatemala to the east.
• State capital: Tuxtla Gutiérrez
• Area: 74,211 km2
• Population: 4.3 millions, of which 55 % are
mestizo-breed and 40 % are indians
• Sights of interest: Sumidero Canyon, Agua
Azul waterfalls as well as the Mayan ruins of
Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilán
© Association Na Bolom Danmark – www.nabolom.dk – email: [email protected] – tlf. 3649 3834